Massaging device.



F. HASSLER. M'ASSAGING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED mm: "29, 1914.

Patentd Dec. 22, 1914,

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. 1. WZZZW H RN mm F. HASSLER.

MASSAGING DBVIGEi 1 APNPILIOATION FILED JUNE 29, 1914. 1,121,831. Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK HASSLER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

mssaeme DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 29, 1914. Serial No. 848,076.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK HASSLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Massaging Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. V

This invention relates to a massaging device or vibratory apparatus especially designed for use in therapeutics or systems of remedial treatment consisting of manipulating a part or whole of the body by percussion, vibration and various kinds of agitation.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an energizing apparatus having a novel vibrant member that is electrically operated and receives the entire energy of the electrical means without the force being distributed throughout the apparatus and the structure upon which it rests. 1

Another object of this invention is to provide a vibratory apparatus or machine having a counterbalanced easily adjusted beam that can be positioned to subject the body or any portion thereof to a treatment.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the above type that is simple in construction, durable, easy to move and control, and highly efficient for imparting vibratory or oscillatory movement to a massage instrumentality. 1

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now ings, wherein.-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, partly broken away and partly 1n.

section; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one of the-bearings of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a plan of the apparatus partly broken away and partly in section:

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken on the l1ne IV-IV of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is an end view of a vibrant member of the apparatus.

In describing my invention by aid of the views above referred to, I desire to point out that said views are intended as merely illustrative of an example whereby the invention may be applied in practice, and I do not care to confine myself to the exact constructlon and arrangement of parts shown. The following description is therefore to be broadly construed as including substitute constructions and arrangements which are the obviousequivalents of'those to be hereinafter referred to. i V

In the drawings,'1 denotes a table or platform having legs 2 or other supportsprovided with feet 4 that rest upon cushions or yieldable blocks 5. These cushions or blocks can be made of felt, rubber or a similar material and can-be suitably secured to the feet "l:- One set of legs or supports are disposed at an angle relatively to the other set of legs or supports whereby the table or platform will have a substantial base and thereby preclude any possibility of the apparatus accidentally tilting or upsetting when in use.- The angularly disposed set of legs or supports is provided with casters 6 and by tilting the table or platform the same can be easily shifted from one position to another.

One end of the table or platform 1 has a vertical frame 7 providedwith transversely alining bearings 8 for a driven shaft 9. Slidably mounted upon said shaft 9 and keved' or otherwise held against rotation with said shaft is a friction wheel 10 adaptfoot or base 14 thereof connected by'pins I,

15 to longitudinally disposed parallelguide rods 16 which are slidably mounted in bearings '17, carried by a platform 18.' Engaging the outer ends of the rods 16 within the outer bearings 17' are coiled com ression springs 21 connected to screws 19 ad ustably be had to the drawmounted in bearings 20 carried by the plat form 18. The platform 18 is movably supthe platform being adjusted relative to the table 1 and locked with the heads of the Patented Dec. 22, 1914. r

bolts 23 in engagement with the underside of the table. The adjustable platform 18 permits of the armature shaft 12 of the electric motor being maintained in the same horizontal plane as the driven shaft 9, and

it is through the medium of the coiled compression springs 21 that the electric motor is held with the friction disk 11 thereof normally engaging the friction wheel 10 of the driven shaft. The springs 21 therefore compensate for a certain amount of wear be- 4 tween the friction disk and the friction wheel and adjustment can be made from time to time whereby the electric motor is correctly positioned relatively to the driven shaft.

Pivotally connected to the frame 7 isa beam 25 and the outer end of said beam is bifurcated or forked, as at 26, and provided with bearings 27 for a rock'shaft 28. The rock shaft 28 supports the bearing 29 of a depending yoke or stirrup 30 and adjustably connected to the lower end of the yoke as at 31 is the outer end of a counterbalance lever 32, said lever having the rear end thereof bifurcated and pivotally connected, as at 33 to the frame 7. The rear bifurcated ends of the counterbalance lever 33 has depending arms 34 supporting a weight or poise 35 beneath the table 1 of the apparatus. The rockshaft 28, between the bearings 29, has

, a split sleeve 36 clamped thereon and said sleeve has a depending crank 37 upon which there is adjustably mounted a trunnion member 38 for the forked end or coupling 39 of a pitman 40. The pitman 40 is connected to an eccentric 41 upon the driven shaft 9 and it is through the medium of this eccentric that the shaft 28 is rocked or operated. 7

Upon the end of therock shaft 28 is clamped or otherwise mounted a suitable massaging or agitating member .42. A conventional form of such a member has been illustrated as including contact faces 43 preferably made of rubber and the shape of the member is such as to permit of a treatment being readily applied to an armor The connection between the yoke 30 and the fulcrum counterbalance lever 32 permits of the beam 25 being set at a desired 1nclinationjwhereby the member 42 will be convenientlyv positioned to be vibrated or oscillated? When the electric motor 13 is placedin operation, the shaft 9 is driven and through the medium of the eccentric 41, pitman 40 and crank 37, a rocking or oscillatory movement is imparted to the shaft 28 and the member 42 carried thereby. The frequency of vibration is, determined by the speed of the driven shaft 9, which is controlled by shifting the friction wheel 10 upon the shaft. This is accomplished by providing the friction wheel 10 with a hub 44, a loose collar 45 and an operating rod 46 which is adjustably held bv one side of the frame 7. (See Fig. 3.) 5 The amplitude of vibration is adjusted at the crank 37 through order that the rock or oscillatory shaft 28 may receive the full energy or force of the inwardly projecting beveled flange 49 confronting a peripheral flange 50 of the collar 47. A gasket or washer '51 is interposed between the l'langes 49 and 50, said gasket being preferably made of leather or of similar yieldable material. 47 v and the bushing is a packing 52 of rubber or resilient material and the packing is retained in position and against the beveled flange 49 by a beveled follower 53 and a nut 54, the latter being screwed in the bushing 46. There is a clearance between the collar 47 and the nut 54 whereby the frame? is relieved of stresses and .strains or even vibrations when the apparatus is in operation. These novel bearings coiiperate with the cushions 5 in preventing the floor of a building or other support upon which the apparatus rests from being vibrated or subjected toany motion while the apparatus is in operation, and the construction and arrangement of parts is such that the rock or oscillatory shaft 28 receives the full fOICr. of the electric motor and consequently treatment by the apparatus is more pronounced than if the shocks and vibrations were absorbed and distributed throughout the apparatus.

What I claim is 1. In a vibratory apparatus, frame carried by said table, a beam pivot ally: connected thereto and extending forwardly from said table, a rock shaft at the outer end of said beam adapted to support massaging instrumentalities, a yoke on said rock shaft, and a counterbalancing lever ad justablyconnected to said yoke and pivotally supported by said frame.

2. In a vibratory apparatus, a table, a frame supported by said table, a beam piv otally connected to said frame, a rock shaft supported by the outer end of said beam and adapted to support massaging instrumentalities, a yoke on said rock shaft, a lever pivotally connected to said frame and adjustably connected to said yoke, and means upon said table for imparting a rocking movement to said shaft.

3. In a vibratory apparatus, a table, a frame on said table, a beam pivotally connected to said frame, a rock shaft revolubly a table, a

Between the collar supported by said beam and adapted to sup- ,7 shaft, and a counterbalance lever. ivotally supported by said frame and a justably connected to said yoke.

4. In a vibratory apparatus, a table, a frame on said table, a beam ivotally connected to said frame, a rock s aft revolubly supported by said beam and adapted to support massaging instrumentalities', a yoke on said rock shaft, a crank depending from said rock shaft, a trunnion member adjustab1y connected thereto, a pitman connected to said member and adapted to rock sai shaft, a counterbalance lever pivotally supported'by said frame and adjustably con-- nected to said yoke, and a weight suspended from said, lever and extending transversely beneath said table.

5. In a, vibratory apparatus, va table, a

frame upon said table,"a beam pivotally connected to said frame, a fork at the outer end of said beam, a rock shaft journaled in said fork and adapted to support massaging instrumentalities, a yoke on said rock shaft, a crank depending from said rock shaft, a trunnion member adjustably connected thereto, a'pitman connected to said member and adapted to rock said shaft, a counterbalance lever pivotally supported by said frame and adjustably connected to said yoke, and

a weight suspended from' said lever and. ex-

tending ti'ansversely beneath said table.

In testimony whereof aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK HASSLER.

Witnesses-z ANNA M. Donn, KARL H. Burma. 

